Contact thermometer



,MN'Ch 26, 1940 .J. l.. BLooMHEART 2,195,019

CONTACT THERMOMETER Filed April 22, 1938 s sheets-sheet 1 SWITCH I March 26, 1940. .1. L. BLooMHEART CONTACT THERMOMETER Filed April 22, y1938 s Sheng-sheet 2 (50 ./a//W Wam/wf! Marek ze, 1940. J, BLQOMHEART 2,195,019

CONTACT THERMOMETER Filed April 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /f 7@ f C r 0 ik fg gf 31 1 v V/J I il V lSmm/11051 E111/camion:

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED4 STATES CONTACT THERMOMETER vJohn L. Bloornheart, Toledo, Ohio, assignor, by rmesne assignments, to Martha F. McKesson,

Toledo, Ohio f Application April 22, i938, serian No. .203,617

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a diagnostic aid in therapeutic activities as to the skin, orice, or cavity for a condition of control and a` temperature control of a patient.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a thermally responsive element in an electric circuit. Such element is readily located at a suspected region for an indicating instrument to disclose a temperature condition.

Referring to the drawings: n l

Fig. 1v is a sidel elevation of a portable set-up for the device herein;

Fig. 2 is a view looking into the opened cabinet or container of Fig. l, showing the tool or applicator as directed therefrom; l i

Fig. 3 is a View on the line III-III, Fig. 2, looking into the Contact end of the tool or applicator;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the tool or applicator on the line IV-IV, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a thin or disk type of tool which may be used instead of the handle type of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a modified arrangement for the contact; adapted for insertion in an oriiiice, and is oi the general suppository type;

Fig. 7 is a View from the rear of the right hand portion of Fig. 2, showing the'electrical instruments;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the electrical instruments on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a sectionthrough the cup or pocket for the energy source or dry cell on the line IX-IX, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram for the electrical equipment of Fig. 7, approximating the grouping of Fig. 2;

Fig. llis a more compact layout of the wiring as in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail of wiring circuit at off position of the control switch;

- Fig. 13 is the wiring circuit at test position of the control switch; and

Fig. 14 is the wiring circuit 4' at Von position of the control switch.

Cushion knobs I (Fig. l) serve as legs for a container 2 in the form of a cabinet or box having hinges 3 (Fig. 2) and a lid 4 having a latch 5. In the lid or cover 4, screws 3 mount a hook strip l, about the extension ends of which may be wrapped a conduit 8, terminally carrying a handle 9. This handle 9 is adapted to be engaged by snaps IB fixed with the lid 4. The handle mounts an applicator tool II having an open end I2, whichin lan out-of-use position, may be covered by a cap 13.`

In the open end I2 is a cup I4 (Fig. 4), across trical wire `I5 of high temperature-coefiicient resistance, the ends of which extend through a ,A

chamber IB and a plug I8 into the handle v9; The chamber I6 is provided with` vent'openings Il. -The conducto-r I5 has terminals I9, 2Q. The terminal I9 connects to a second junction 2l (Fig. 10) betweenwires 22, 23, and the terminal connectsto a conductor wire 24 for extending through the conduit 8.

In the container or major section of the cabinet 2, screws (Fig. 2) mount a plate 25. The plate 26 has a window 21 exposing a galvanorneter needle 28. `The needle 2,8 is movable across a scale 29. Y The scale 29 has Fahrenheit read-I Vings 30 and adjacent thereto Centigrade readings 3I. A limit region 32 is provided for throw of the needle 28 to the right for ftest position. An adjusting screw 33 is provided for the indicating instrument on a panel portion 34. I

'A handle 35 is near the lowei right hand corner of the plate 26. The handle 35 is rockable as an adjustable control for the rheostat for the energy source in the use of the instrument. operable handle 36 is` at the lower left corner. The handle 36 is for cutting in the instrument from off position to test and on positions as indicated. Between these handles 36,v 35, there is an opening 31 for the conduit 8 toconnect up the electrical apparatus back of this plate 26fwith the tool II. toward the indicating instrument and between the manually operable handles 35, 36 (Figs.v 8, 9). This cap 38 has therein a corrugated insulation cushion 39 in a metal pocket 40 to receive a dry cell 4I, say as a ashlight battery. This cell 4I has a terminal 42 with a contact therefor at a central base terminal 43 having an insulation mounting 44 in the bottom of the pocket 4G. conductor line 45 extends from the terminal 43. The screw lid or cap 38 has a spring terminal 46 to contact aterminal 41 ofthe dry cell 4I in completing the placing of this dry cell in a circuit with a line 48 (Fig. l0). The line 45 extends to a resistance 49 having an adjustable Contact 5i) operable by the handle 35 of the rheostat.

The line 48 extends to a first junction 5l of a Wheatstone bridge.` The bridge has a leg 52 with a resistance 5,3 therein, and a leg 54 with a resistance 55. The leg '54 extends to a fourth junction 55 and is there connected to a fourth leg 5l, a resistance 58, and a conducto-r 59 to an adjustable terminal 6D, a resistance 6I tothe conductor 23. 1 A line 50' connects the adjustable A manually A screw cap 38 isv rsf contact 50 with a terminal 62, a resistance 83, and a line 64.

A galvanometer 65 has a terminal 66 from which extends a conductor 6l to an arm 68 of the manually operable switch 36. The galvanometer S has a terminal 69 from which extends a conductor 'l0 to a movable arm 'li xed with the manually operable handle 38. The two sides of the indicating instrument or galvanoineter are thus connected to a manually operable control switch. The control switch has an arm l2 connected to the line 22. At oli position the galvanometer is shorted out of circuit. A shifting of this manually operable switch 36 would be from off position, with the galvanometer and battery out of active circuit connection, to test position for the galvanometer to disclose the condition of the circuit in use in Fig. 2. This first shifting (Figs. l0, 13) brings the arm l2 to a terminal 13 in connecting the conductor line El! through the adjustable resistance t3, the terminal 62 and the line 59 to the terminal 5l). At the manually operable rheostat handle 35 the adjustable resistance 43, now in series with the dry cell lll, may thus be operated to bring the galvanometer needle 28 to the test position 32. This test thus serves to check up the reading of the galvanometer for the condition of the battery. At the shifting of the arm l2, the arm 'H is brought to a terminal 74, thereby connecting the lines '18, 50', at one side of the galvanorneter 55 into the energy circuit. The arm 68 from the line 6l is at the same time shifted to a terminal l5 and by a line it there is a connection to the conductor line 22. These three switch contacts, as made, place the galvanometer in circuit. The more readily adjustable manually operable rheostat i9 may now be positioned to bring the needle to test position 32 on the scale 2s.

After the mid-position of testing adjustment, the manually operable switch 36 brings the arm l2 into the position of on at the terminal il (Fig. lll) connected to the conductor till. Simultaneously, the arm 'll is brought to a terminal 'I8 having a conductor connection 'i9 with the junction 55 of the bridge. The same on position of the switch handle 35 brings the arm 68 to a terminal 8B having a conductor connection 2l to a third junction 82 at the bridge opposite the junction 56.

The tool may then be applied to the tip of a digit 83 (Fig. 2), at places on the face, or about the body of a person. Immediately there is a response in a shifting of the needle, which may show a condition of a chill, if low; may show a normal condition; or may show a condition of fever. The response is a direct swinging, but not a free oscillation, of the needle 28. It is a direct, non-sluggish movement to operative position. There is absence of an oscillatory swinging. This gives a response as to whether or not there be a lack of circulation or a nourishment for the particular esh contacted, or whether there be an abnormal heat condition, say due to an infection, an irritation, or other disturbing factors.

In fact, in the set-up herein, a safeguarding, when a treatment is in process, may be eiected, say for instance with an electric heater or a socalled diathermic treatment. As such may be in the form of a wrapping adapted similar to a poultice or a pad, it is in order to have, in lieu of the resistance l5, a resistance Bl in a holder 85 (Fig. 5).

Again, when there be an occasion to have the tool function say in a human cavity, a resistance 86 (Fig. 6) may be as a wrapping about a mounting 8l in adapting to such use.

The resistance El with its adjustable terminal Si! may be manually controlled by a tool at a screw llt (Fig. 7). The resistance 63 with its adjustable terminal 62 may have such resistance manually controlled at a screw 89. These screw adjustments are less readily effected than the operation of the handle or these may be adapted more readily to cooperate for positioning `the needle 35i in less than its extreme position for more sensitive operation within the range therefor. y

This contact thermometer has a clinical application readily to superficial areas, as to the skin of the patient. It isadapted under a special tool for the exploration of an orifice as to disturbances. VPhysical ailments or diseases, whether primarily in the nerves or otherwise, react on the blood flow or the circulatory system in the veins as well as the arteries. These disturbances away from a normal condition directly disclose in the proximate flesh or the skin region a departure from that temperature which should otherwise be normal therefor.

The step for a diagnostic value is of a continuing importance. Thefollowing and corrective measures may be taken: an administered medical dosage, a diet, or by poultices, a diatherlnic treatment, a massage, an exertion, or other form of clinical treatment or care. The effectiveness of such course 4may be reliably checked as to whether or not there be resulting aggravation. If such be the end sought or if there be such a tendency, then it is in order for the attendant to take due corrective means. The tool of the disclosure herein does not tend to aggravate nor promete a departure from the area under check. The contact portion as superficial is not a one tending to congest the region but allows functioning as may be normal for a skin.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. In a temperature measuring apparatus, a Wheatstone bridge including an applicator tool having a high temperature-coeflicient resistance as a iirst leg thereof, a fixed resistance in each of two legs forming a second and third leg thereof having a first junction therebetween, a xed resistance and a variable resistance in series with each other, constituting the fourth leg of the bridge adapted to have a second junction with the tool, there being a third junction between the rst and second legs, a fourth junction between the third and fourth legs, a source of electric energy having one side connected to the first junction, two variable resistances connected in series with each other and the other side ci said energy source, a galvanometer i or the bridge, circuit arrangements or the bridge in association with a multi-throw switch having an off position at which the energy source is ineiiective, having a test position at which the two variable resist-ences in series are in circuit from the second junction adjusting the energy source with the galvancmeter, and having an on position which the energy source and one of said two variable resistances are in series between the said first and second junctions and the galvanometer is connected between the third and fourth junctions of the bridge.

2.,l'.n a temperature measuring apparatus, a Wheatstone bridge including an applicator tool having a high temperature-coeflicient resistance as a rst leg thereof, a fixed resistance in each 76 of two legs forming a second and third leg thereof having a first junction therebetween, a fixed v with a three pole switch having three .positions of throw, one, an off position at which the energy source is ineffective, two, a test position at which the two variable resistances in series are in circuit from the second junction for adjusting the energy source with the galvanometer, and

three, an on position in which the energy s ource and one of said two Variable resistances are in series between the said iirst and second junctions and the galvanometer is connected between the 10 third and fourth junctions of the bridge.

JOHN vL. BLOOMI-IEART. 

